Banana and grape growers chief beneficiaries
European parliament passes Colombia/Peru trade deal
The recommendation that Parliament give its consent was approved with 20 votes in favour, 4 against and 1 abstention.
After the agreement enters into force, the parties will gradually remove customs duties on exports and imports. It also liberalises services and public procurement markets.
In Colombia and Peru it will be fruit growers - especially those producing bananas ans grapes, that will benefit the most from the deal.
The deal will reduce EU import tariffs on bananas, which prompted concern among rival banana growers in the EU's "outermost regions", such as the Canary Islands, Guadeloupe and Martinique, that their exports to the EU could be challenged by competition from Columbia and Peru.
To meet this concern, accompanying "stabilisation mechanisms for bananas" were negotiated and approved earlier by the International Trade Committee, but still need Parliament's final approval.
Source: bernama.com.my
